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VIDEO: Labour donor Abrahams breaks cover... and commits gaffe talking about 'dead' girl who is still alive
Last updated at 01:22am on 13.12.07As the millionaire at the centre of a police investigation into illegal payments to the Labour party, David Abrahams has always insisted that he chose to conceal his identity because he is publicity shy.
But after spending more than two weeks in hiding whilst the furore over his donations rocked the Government he decided to make his first public appearance - by bizarrely handing over yet another questionable cheque.
The 53-year-old was attending the opening of a hairdressing salon when he presented £1,000 - his apparent appearance fee - to a charity set up to raise funds for seven year old cerebral palsy victim, Olivia Anderson.
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Blunder: David Abrahams, surrounded by glamour girls, said an ill girl was dead during a cheque presentation
Beckoning the girl's clearly embarrassed father over to collect the money he told the gathered crowd in Hexham, Northumberland: "I would like to make a presentation in honour of a little girl called Olivia who died."
It was then that the owner of the salon and close friend, John Anderson, 43, interrupted proceedings to inform him that, in fact, Olivia was alive and in good health.
"Well actually David if you'll let me take over from there, that's not quite correct," said Mr Anderson, who is not related to Olivia.
Big money: David Abrahams was Labour's third biggest donor
"This cheque is for a little girl who suffers from cerebral palsy and David has kindly donated his fee for today to the Olivia Appeal."
To add to Mr Abraham's discomfort Olivia's father, Paul, continued to stare at him with disbelief throughout the presentation.
Mr Abrahams later refused to answer any questions on the donations row but said: "It has been quite a time for me lately.
"This has been the time I need a little bit of support and John has always been there for me and been a good friend."
Mr Abrahams, who also uses the name David Martin, has always claimed that he made a series of large donations to the Labour Party - amounting to more than £650,000 - through intermediaries in a bid to avoid unwelcome publicity.
Yet at Mr Anderson's salon everything down to the length of his nose hair was exposed to the waiting media.
Resigned: Labour General Secretary Peter Watt resigned over the Abrhams' donation fiasco
Before presenting the cheque, the balding businessman first had his thinning thatch washed by an assistant before having a trim.
Half an hour later, the Labour donor stood up in front of the mirror for almost two minutes checking his teeth and nose hairs and wiping sweat from his brow.
Mr Anderson later said he had added Mr Abrahams' "natural colour to cover his grey hairs".
He added: "Over the years we have looked after Mr Martin's hair and every time he comes in he takes centre stage.
"I took a phone call a couple of weeks ago and it was someone in London saying "John, I need my hair cut, I need my hair cut' and straight away I knew who it was. All we did to David's hair was add a little bit of colour to cover his grey hairs."
Olivia's father generously excused Mr Abrahams' earlier faux pas adding: "I am not upset about it. It was a mistake anyone could make. David is a friend of John's so he's a friend of mine.
"I'm sure there were no bad intentions meant."
An internal inquiry into Labour's party funding has since been launched and the Metropolitan Police have also begun an investigation.
They have instructed Durham Police to examine a controversial planning application made by Mr Abrahams which was initially turned down but then approved months after he made a series of donations.
